Determining the biochemical nature of genetic material and the structure of DNA was very exciting, the proposition and deciphering of genetic code were most challenging. In a very true sense, it required involvement of scientists from several disciplines – physicists, organic chemists, biochemists and geneticists.t was George Gamow, a physicist, who argued that since there are only 4 bases and if they have to code for 20 amino acids, the code should constitute a combination of bases. He suggested that in order to code for all the 20 amino acids, the code should be made up of three nucleotides. This was a very bold proposition, because a permutation combination of 4³ (4 × 4 × 4) would generate 64 codons; generating many more codons than required.he codon is triplet. 61 codons code for amino acids and 3 codons do not code for any amino acids, hence they function as stop codons. Some amino acids are coded by more than one codon, hence the code is degenerate. The codon is read in mRNA in a contiguous fashion. There are no punctuations.The code is nearly universal: for example, from bacteria to human UUU would code for Phenylalanine (phe). Some exceptions to this rule have been found in mitochondrial codons, and in some protozoans. AUG has dual functions. It codes for Methionine (met) , and it also act as initiator codon. UAA, UAG, UGA are stop terminator codons.

Which among the following is the function of AUG ?

(i) It codes for Methionine (met) .

(ii) It  act as initiator codon.

(iii)  It act as terminator codon.

(i) and (ii) only 

The correct answer is Option (3) - (i) and (ii) only

The function of AUG in the context of genetic coding is:

It codes for Methionine (Met) and  it  act as initiator codon.

AUG is known as the start codon and also codes for the amino acid Methionine in the genetic code. It serves as the initiation signal for protein synthesis, marking the starting point for translation and the incorporation of Methionine into the growing polypeptide chain during protein synthesis.

UAA, UAG, UGA are stop terminator codons.